Monthly Archives: August 2011

THE IDENTITY OF THE MAZENODIAN FAMILY: AN ELITE BODY FOR THE CHURCH

It is only after Vatican II that the word “charism” was used to describe the particular God-given characteristics of a religious family, but it is exactly this concept that Eugene is referring to when he speaks of the spirit of … Continue reading

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THE IDENTITY OF THE MAZENODIAN FAMILY: OBLATION AS THE SPIRIT THAT DISTINGUISHES IT FROM OTHER GROUPS

What is the spirit that is specific to our existence? Eugene defines it as being that of oblation. Our Lord Jesus Christ has left to us the task of continuing the great work of the redemption of mankind… This spirit … Continue reading

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THE IDENTITY OF THE MAZENODIAN FAMILY: TO CONTINUE THE GREAT WORK OF THE REDEMPTION OF MANKIND

Here Eugene touches the heart of the vocation of the Missionary – the unique purpose of the Mazenodian family exists to co-operate with Jesus Christ in his work of redemption. A year later, Eugene would describe the Oblates as “co-operators … Continue reading

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THE IDENTITY OF THE MAZENODIAN FAMILY: ALL FOR GOD AT THE SERVICE OF OTHERS

Eugene’s time in Paris coincided with the moment when the government of King Louis XVIII was involved in repairing the destruction wreaked on the Church by the Revolution and Napoleon. One of their tasks was to re-establish some of the … Continue reading

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I APPRECIATE AND PREFER THIS FAMILY OF MY CHOICE, TO EVERYTHING THE WORLD CAN OFFER

After God, it was the religious family of Missionaries he belonged to that was the most important focus of his life. Having spent six weeks in Paris, Eugene felt the separation even more acutely: Do you not know that I … Continue reading

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THE COMMUNITY IS NOT A HOTEL

Eugene continues to reflect on community and how each member is to be committed to it. He uses the concept of “house” in the sense not of a physical building, but of the place where the community takes a form. … Continue reading

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DECEITFUL OR MALICIOUS PRIESTS ARE THE GREAT WOUND OF THE CHURCH

Eugene was in Paris precisely because some of the priests of Aix were attacking the Missionaries of Provence and he needed support to counteract this and to ensure the survival of his missionary community that was doing so much good … Continue reading

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LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE AND BRING LIFE IN A WOUNDED CHURCH AND WORLD

The life experience of Eugene had led him to come into direct contact with the wounds inflicted on the Church by the French Revolution, and with the void left by the destruction of the ancient religious orders. In exile in … Continue reading

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COMMUNITY: IF WE KNEW HOW TO PRAY BETTER, WE WOULD HAVE MORE COURAGE

While Eugene is in Paris to regulate the business of the Missionaries, he has time to look back and reflect on the 18 months of the life of the Missionaries of Provence. From the context of what he writes it … Continue reading

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COMMUNITY IS MORE THAN JUST A GROUP OF PERSONS BEING NICE TO EACH OTHER

Insisting that Tempier and the community had to work to continue to “make of our home an earthly paradise” Eugene stressed some of the qualities necessary for this to be achieved. They were to avoid self-centredness, to be zealous for … Continue reading

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